Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 225: Arc 4, Act II, - 70: A Puppeteer Atop the Tower
The following day, Daiyu made it aware to the council that the news of this rebellion was to be kept private till the battle was over and that Deputy Minister Cornerade would be kept in the palace’s dungeons.
Cornerade was thrown into the cell with the rest of the rebellion, away from any seat of power. The rest of the high-ranking council members found themselves in the same location...
A net of corruption, each day lessening the Council of Cravolta. Although most of the council seemed content with this, this much stress and pressure every morning could only be tolerated so far.
Hoping this to be the last of it, they wiped their hands clean and shifted their focus onto the plans they carry out during the Trailon Regime’s last stand.
Hotaru took Asobi to the library right after the impromptu meeting of a few elites. "You wanna go learn that Spider Walk spell? I gotta learn Shoulder-Charge at some point."
"Well, I wanna try and find more corruption in the council, but I have to do that too." Fumeko walked down the hall with a hand to her chin.
"Maybe, it’s best if we don’t look for that for right now," the blonde shrugged.
The brunette pouted her lips to the side, "How many secrets can we keep from the public? They’re bound to find out. That rebellion isn’t just the people we got, it’s a whole web.
And the council knows, how many of them can actually keep their mouths zipped? Rumours’re probably making it through the city every night."
Jotou looked to the Sun glittering against the windows, "We can’t do anything about it detective. A public announcement only confirms those rumours; it’s better that it stays rumour and not fact for now.
That’s just a problem for another day. We don’t have the time to deal with it right now. We need to have priorities; split our focus too much then we might not be prepared for the fight."
Fumeko sighed, "I get that, but I don’t feel any easier about it. Daiyu might be in constant danger. The clock’s ticking before the masses find out and we don’t know the time."
Jotou smirked, "Hm. I didn’t realize you cared about her this much detective."
She shrunk, "I, uh, just like her personality; she’s, kinda cool."
The other simply grinned.
"It’s not a crush or anything alright!"
"Didn’t think it was."
"Good!" Fumeko stood on the tips of her toes to exclaim. "Your friend’s my friend too, right?"
Her grin turned into a chuckle, "Of course."
"So, what do we do now?"
"What we can do is make sure our battle plan is solid; that’s it. Learn the spells we need and get in our practice. We’ve got three weeks left. And after that, I can talk to Daiyu if you want; though I think she’s interested in someone else."
"I don’t want her you paranoiac, I want you!" Fumeko clasped her mouth with both hands, her gaze wandering up to Jotou. Her face went red.
Jotou stared... her lips twisted up and she giggled. The blonde walked off in her titter. "I know~ Just trying to piss you off detective."
"AGH!!!! Don’t just snort at me and walk away!!!"
_
At the other end of the hallway, Daiyu bade farewell to the council members that had made it. Some of the members stayed behind to plan of course.
Once she had seen them out, the princess let out a long-drawn-out breath; two people by her side. "Ara, you said you were gonna have a Royal Guard meeting right?"
The Ashen Whisper nodded, "We need to make, things a little stricter. These are all trained guards; an attack from them can be well executed, if not cause something major, to falter," Feyan relayed.
"The Royal Guard won’t be joining in the battle, will they?" Daiyu asked though it sounded more like a statement.
Arabella shook her head and circled her finger in the air.
"Yeah, they’re for the palace and elites; royal’s literally in the name. Anyway, when you gather them this might be a good way to root out any more rebels.
Tell them, that if they come clean now I’ll have a personal chat with them and hear them out. No punishment will come out of it."
Arabella tilted her head... Then nodded to the order. She turned and left the foyer. "Wise of you my lady."
"I thought being a li’l nice could help for a change. I think demonizing them’ll make everything worse around us," Daiyu waved her hand back and forth.
The two walked further in, into a hallway. "It would not hurt to try."
"And you’ve getting better at your sign language."
"Thank you for noticing," Feyan beamed. "How have you been faring?"
"I can tell some words and stuff, but I haven’t really had time to focus on it. I think I’m getting better."
"It should be no worry princess. I will be by your side if you ever do need a translator. You have me for a reason after all."
"Yeah," Daiyu glanced sideways, "I do. I think you being the first face I saw weighed in a lot. But I don’t regret it at all. You’re important to me Feyan; I really hope you see us as like, equals, not me as your superior or something."
"Thank you and you are certainly important to me... but my lady, you are..."
Daiyu half-closed her right eye, "Feyan, you still don’t call me by my name."
Feyan brought the hands from his back to his front to hold. He looked to the walls of the corridor, the paintings, the decorations, "It is just my upbringing princess... I am used to these things.
Be it that you are from another world, that you were not a princess in your past life. However it may be, you are now the heart of Cravolta; which is why I find it difficult..."
Daiyu exhaled through her nose and stared to the marble. "But I will try my lady. You must simply give me a bit of time."
Her cheeks puffed in content, "You got all the time you want. What would I’ve done if that rogue guard yesterday shot me? You saved me."
"Oh well," Feyan blushed, "It really was no trouble princess."
"I know, who else could have saved me?" Daiyu put the back of her palm to her forehead, "Bullets hurt me so! It is not as if bullets do no harm against me. You truly are my saviour Lord Artevik—my hero!"
Feyan’s eyes glazed over. Daiyu cackled maniacally into the air, "Kidding," she gave a light punch to his shoulder; lighter than usual.
"I should be used to catty theatrics that you have learned from the Thundering Blade."
"I’m not as bad as Jotou," Daiyu rolled her eyes. "Seriously though, thanks."
"Always."
They heard another set of footsteps around the corner. "Ah, the princess and her chamberlain, funny running into you two," the countess appeared. "Eventful morning?"
"You should know the details, we sent a missive to your chambers as well," Feyan narrowed his glance.
"I’m aware yes," the countess looked to the other. "Come now, no need to be such a grump, smile a little."
Daiyu’s arms remained crossed, "I like how you find it funny running into each other, cause I think it’s hilarious. What do you want?"
"Since you have asked. I have been on my best behaviour for a while now, haven’t I? I think I should be allowed to visit home for a couple of days."
"HA! No way in hell."
The countess glared, "If I am never to see my home again, what of my estate?"
Daiyu hummed, "We can probably sell it off, don’t you think?" the smug grin turned to Feyan.
"I have servants there who require tending to, to tend to matters."
"You have been staying in the palace for months now I believe, I think your estate will function just fine."
The countess faced Feyan, "Well, if you want to explain to them why me or my husband have not visited our own home, be my guest."
Daiyu walked off with a wave of her hand, Feyan following behind. "Write a letter telling them of your permanent stay here, I’ll send it immediately," she brushed aside.
Countess Keya grimaced to the hallway they walked, "How long do you intend to keep me here?"
"As long as it takes till this whole thing blows over; then your treason will be in the papers and finally, finally I can put you back in your charming cell in the dungeons. So like, forever."
The countess cocked her head, with a shrivel of her nose, "I walk as freely as you in these halls. When do you intend to tell the public of my treason?"
The question paused their steps. The countess’s voice not in a yell nor anger; rather it was tame with a pleasant hum...
"Because if you do, then you also inform your fellow guests from various countries, that you allowed someone who tried to poison you, walk freely where the most wealthy and most important had gathered.
Not to mention the fact that you hid this truth from them and all the consequences that shall ensue. The public will question your title and the world will know of this little bargain."
Feyan stood idly whilst Daiyu’s hand curled into a fist, "I’ll just change the dates of when you tried to poison me; I’m sure the council’ll understand."
The countess gave a leer, "Do tell, how many more will you stack on this tower of lies? Because when you look down, all those people are going to seem so little from afar.
Like little toys you can change the faces of with a squint. So precariously standing on one foot, baring the image of a marionette, while behind the reflection you’re the puppeteer."
The countess hissed, "This, is how corruption is formed. And when you realize your sins and that tower topples, like all these rebels you’ve been arresting, your fall shall be great and there will be no one to catch you.
I bet that every official you have caught thought they could get away with it. So I would advise you, to come up with a proper solution and keep that tower short."
The purple-haired princess had her back turned to her... Every word she said had a separate sting, a different tone. Her right eye twitched with a growl emanating from her voice...
"Grrrrbrr...rumble..." The heel of her foot tapped against the marble and the palace began to quake. The countess held onto the corner of a wall, still scowling.
"Princess!"
Daiyu peered to her left, to the worry across Feyan’s face. Her eyes softened as he held onto her shoulder for support. Daiyu lifted her foot and sighed. She did not turn around, "I fucking hate you, you bitch," she stomped off.
The countess steadied herself, earning a shadowed glare from Feyan before the half-elf paced after her.
